2018 FIFA World Cup without traditional powerhouses

Italy, Netherlands and Chile have failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

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Jepher Christopher Nickels

New Delhi

June 1, 2018

UPDATED: June 1, 2018 19:26 IST

Italy have failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 60 years (Reuters Photo)

HIGHLIGHTS

Italy have won four World Cups in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006

Nethelands have reached the final three times

Chile won back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016

Ever imagined watching a FIFA World Cup without Italy?

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will played in Russia and the big team absent from the tournament will be Italy, the 2006 champions.

For the first time in 60 years, Italy will not be part of the 32-team World Cup in Russia starting June 14.

Italy had failed to qualify for the World Cup just once before, reaching 14 straight since falling short in 1958. The Azzurri did not enter the first World Cup in 1930.

The last major competitions Italy failed to qualify for were the 1984 and 1992 European Championships.

After winning the World Cup in 2006 for a fourth time, Italy went out at the group stage of the next two editions. They fared somewhat better at the European Championship, reaching the final in 2012 and quarter-final elimination in 2008 and 2016.

For a long time, Italy lacked a creative force, successors to Andrea Pirlo and Francesco Totti of the 2006 side who could change a match with one moment of magic.

Mario Balotelli was the star of Euro 2012 but fell out of favor after Italy's woeful showing at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

NETHERLANDS

Not just Italy, this World Cup three-time finalists The Netherlands have also missed their flight to Russia.

Failure to qualify for the Euro 2016 finals was a major blow just two years after the Netherlands finished third at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

And then missing out on the World Cup was a dramatic fall from grace after the Dutch had ended runners-up in South Africa in 2010 and were losing semi-finalists at the last tournament in Brazil.

To qualify, the Dutch needed to beat Sweden 7-0 to in their last group game in the qualifiers but they managed a 2-0 victory hence failing to make it make it to the World Cup finals.

Netherlands' failure led to Arjen Robben's retirement from international football.

CHILE

Despite winning back-to-back Copa America crowns and finishing runners-up at Confederations Cup in Russia in 2017, another soccer powerhouse missing from this year's World Cup is Chile.

Chile finished sixth in the group stage during qualifiers (Reuters Photo)

Chile failed to qualify for after finishing sixth in the group stage. Their hopes were dashed when group toppers Brazil thrashed them 3-0 in their final group game to leave them with just eight wins in 18 matches.

Chile's exit was one of the biggest shocking moments in the South American football given their run of form in the Copa America and Confederations Cup.

Chile won the Copa America in 2015 and 2016 and were losing finalists in the Confederations Cup last year.

Having failed to reach the finals in 2002 and 2006 tournaments, Chile were among the 32 teams participating in the biggest sporting spectacle in 2010 and 2014.